Mumbai/Imphal,30 March 2015~ In yet another good news for people of Manipur, the state’s own much highly recognized daughter, often known as “The Face & Voice of Northeast”, Ms Binalakshmi Nepram has been awarded the prestigious L’Oréal Paris Femina Women Awards 2015 in the category of “Face of A Cause”. This is the first time any Manipuri or from Northeast Region has ever won such a prestigious award.

The awards were given away in Mumbai last week at a jammed pack, glittering, power packed ceremony held at The Leela that was filled with India’s who’s who in the field of business, arts, politics and entertainment.

In a statement issued by Femina, Ms Nepram was recognized and honoured for continuously and selflessly striving to make this world a better place. Femina also stated that women like Ms Nepram are “Women of worth who have been silently working for various causes and issues concerning the society… woman with extraordinary accomplishment, outstanding leadership qualities and exceptional commitment to her career and community”.

Ms Nepram was dressed in traditional Manipur dress of phanek and wore a turmeric hued Manipuri enaphi hand-woven by women of state as she received award to applause of many. In a statement issued by Ms Nepram, she said, “In honouring me, Femina has honoured the women of Manipur and Northeast India”. She dedicated the award to the brave mothers of Manipur & Northeast India who through their sheer grit and determination have steered the course of history of state and region inspite of over 60 years of armed conflict. She vowed that she will be working with several women across Manipur and region to bring about much needed change for peace and progress.

Femina is India’s first and largest read women’s lifestyle magazine set up in 1959 instituted the Femina Women Awards 2012. Ms Nepram polled over 120,000 votes to win the award besides a selection by an eminent group of jury that consists of Ritu Kumar, Ashwini Natchappa, Supriya Pathak etc

Born to parents Nepram Bihari and Yensembam Ibemhal, Ms Nepram hails from Sagolbandh Nepra Menjor Leikai.Ms Nepram is poet,author of 4 books and is founder of award winning organization Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and Control Arms Foundation of India.She is recipient of several national and internationally recognized awards for her work on women led initiatives for peace and downtrodden women survivors of armed conflict in Manipur and Northeast Region. In January 2015 prestigious Forbes (India) Magazine named her as one of “24 Young Minds to Watch out for in 2015” and London based organization, “Action on Armed Violence” named Ms Nepram as one of top 100 influential people in world working on armed violence reduction.

Whole of Manipur and Northeast Region has been celebrating Ms Nepram’s win since news of award came in, a first ever win by any Manipuri or a Northeastern. The life and work of Ms Nepram continues to inspire millions across Manipur, Northeast, India and world. She is truly a much loved “Daughter of Manipur and whole Northeast”.